Drive-chain.



No. 737,749. PATENTEDSEPT. 1, 1903.

G. W. LEVALLEY.

DRIVE. GRAIN.

APPLIQATIQN FILED JUNE 25, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

III"

I Z1 5 J4 lll l mlllll [NI/EN TOR UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER WV. LEVALLEY,

Patented September 1, 1903.

OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

' DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,749, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed June 25, 1902.

To all whom, it nutty concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER W. LEVAL- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention, which is the subjectmatter of this case, relates to detachable drive or sprocket chains; and it has for its object to improve the same, particularly with reference to the construction and arrangement of the articulating parts or joints of the chain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a short section of a chain enibodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an edge or side view of the parts represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1'. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4. 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the coupling-pin. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the cross-bar end of one of the chainlinks.

In the drawings, A A designate the side bars of the links, and B the tubular connecting end or cross bars. I have represented my invention as being applied to a chain in which the individual links are formed of a pair of side bars and an end bar of integral construction, although it will be understood that certain features of my invention are applicable to other forms of chain differing from that shown. The outer or free ends of the side bars are arranged to be coupled to the end bar B of an adjacent link, being situated outside of or at the opposite ends of the end bar, as is common in chains formed of links of this type. The outer ends of the side bars are perforated for the passage of the connecting-pins C, and when the links are in place the perforations or holes a in the side bars are directly in line with the opening I) through the end bar. I prefer that the end bars should be provided at their ends with hubs or bosses D and that the side bars should be provided upon their inner faces with recesses concentric with the apertures a to receive the hubs or bosses D, this construction insuring an interlocking engagement between the links substantially in the plane of the side bars and at the joints or articulating points of the Serial No. 113,150. (No model.)

chain. This construct-ion I do not herein claim broadly, as it is shown and constitutes a feature of invention claimed by me in my Patent No. 694,870, dated March 4., 1902.

In order to facilitate the connection of the links when provided with the interlocking parts which I have just described, I bevel the hubs or bosses D, as indicated at d. When thus formed, I find that it is easier to force the free ends of the side bars over the bosses than when the hubs or bosses are of uniform height or length throughout their entire periphery. The free ends of the side bars are preferably provided. with flanges F, which are adapted to lie inside of the lugs or lips G, carried by the side bars A, when the parts are in Working position. These flanges and lugs tend to prevent the spreading of the side bars when the links are in working line and under strain.

' The coupling-pin is provided at one end with a head a and at or near its opposite end with a short rib or spur o. The side bars are notched or grooved, as represented at a, to permit the passage of the rib or spur 0 upon the connecting-pin, and the end bar is longitudinally grooved, as indicated at b, for the same purpose. The grooves a and b are so disposed that they come in line with each other only when the links are turned into an unusual position-that is, a position which they do not assume under ordinary working conditions. This position is preferably one in which the two adjacent links are arranged at substantially right angles to each other. When thus situated, the grooves a and Z2 register with each other, and the pin may be freely passed through the apertures in the side and end bars, thus connecting the links. The head 0 serves as a stop to limit the extent to which the pin may be inserted and indicates that the pin is in position to permit free articulation of the links. When thus situated, the rib or spur c occupies the groove ct in one of the end bars. The rib o being eccentric to the body of the pin and longitudinal movement in one 'direction and the spur c preventing its movement in the opposite direction.

As illustrated in Figs] and 2, the pin may be arranged with the head 0 at either side of the chain. Whenever it is desired to uncouple the chain or to remove a pin, it is only necessary to turn the links into a position which will bring the grooves a and 1) into line with each other, when the pin may be easily removed by sliding it longitudinally.

I am aware that it has been proposed to construct drive-chains of separable links each havingside bars connected by a tubular crossbar, the bore of which is longitudinally grooved and having the free ends of the side bars perforated and internally grooved, the

I grooves in the cross-bar and perforated ends of the side bars of adjacent links being out of register when the links are in working position, and to connect such links by a cross pin or pintle having longitudinal ribs or eccentric projections at each end adapted when in coupling position to occupy the grooves in the perforated ends of the side bars, While the middle cylindrical portion of the pin lies in the perforated cross-bar of the next link. My invention differs from such a chain in that I provide each pintle with means whereby its longitudinal movement is positively arrested when it has been inserted into proper position for coupling, such means consisting of the head 0 and being arranged at the end of the pintle opposite to the eccentric rib 0. Links of the class to which my invention belongs are usually cast so that the grooves in the perforated ends of the side bars and in the cross-bars are more or less rough, thus requiring considerable force to insert the pintle. In using my invention the pintle may be driven into place by the blows of a hammer and will be arrested in exactly the proper position for coupling,,no matter what force be applied in driving it into place, whereas in such earlier devices as have been referred to it is a matter of difficulty and requires skill and attention to force the coupling-pin exactly to the right place for coupling, especially if the grooves through which the eccentric projections pass are rough.

- When a coupling-pin such as I have shown and described is used, there is no danger of its moving longitudinally when the links of the chain have been brought into working position, as the head holds the pin from longitudinal movement in one direction and the eccentric spur or projection from longitudinal movement in the other. It will also be observed that the end of the connecting-pin opposite the head does not extend beyond the face of the side bar with which the eccentric spur engages, which is of decided advantage, as when the pins project they catch upon and collect material and often strike against projecting objects to the injury of the chain, both of which objections are overcome by the use of a chain made according to my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a chain, the combination of the side bars, the end bars formed with outward extending hubs or bosses at their ends arranged to interlock with the overlapping ends of the side bars, the-said hubs or bosses being beveled, as at d, and the connecting-pins which pass through the side and end bars, substantially as set forth.

2. In a chain, the combination of the side bars, the end bars formed with outward extending hubs or bosses at their ends arranged to interlock with the overlapping ends of the side bars, the said hubs being beveled as at d, and the lugs G carried by the side bars and arranged to prevent the spreading of the side bars of adjacent links when the links are in working position, substantially as set forth.

CHRISTOPHER W. LEVALLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. FRYE, W. O. SARGENT. 

